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As part of its Performance and Accountability Series, GAO provided information on the major management challenges and program risks facing the Social Security Administration (SSA).

GAO noted that: (1) the most critical overarching issue facing SSA is the long-term solvency of the Social Security system; (2) since SSA assumed responsibility in 1974 for the SSI program, SSA officials have been challenged to serve the diverse needs of program recipients while still protecting the program's overall financial health and integrity; (3) while SSA paid over $73 billion in 1998 in cash benefits to nearly 11 million Disability Insurance (DI) and SSI blind and disabled beneficiaries (including DI spouses and dependents), SSA's complex process for determining whether an individual qualifies for a disability benefit--the disability claims process--has been plagued by a number of long-standing weaknesses; (4) to cope with increased workload demands--caused, in part, by the forthcoming retirement of the baby boom generation--SSA is counting on its effective use of technology to allow the agency to serve the increasing numbers of applicants and beneficiaries with fewer staff; (5) SSA has made progress in addressing the overarching issue of Social Security's solvency; (6) despite this progress, SSA must take further steps to meet the serious challenges it faces; and (7) with regard to progress concerning specific management challenges, SSA recently issued a report on SSI management.